Coaches

Todd McLellan was named the seventh head coach in San Jose Sharks franchise history on June 12, 2008, and led off with a remarkable debut during the 2008-09 season.

In his first year with the Sharks, the 2008-09 season, McLellan helped lead the team to their first ever President’s Trophy, honoring the team for the best overall regular season with a franchise record of 53 wins and 117 regular season points.

Along with being named as a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, McLellan led the Western Conference All-Star Team as Head Coach.
McLellan spent three seasons as a member of the Red Wings coaching staff before departing for San Jose. He quickly earned a reputation as a great offensive mind, leading the Red Wings' very successful power-play unit and ultimately capturing a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007-08.

In 2005-06, the Red Wings were the league's best power-play team, scoring at a 22.1 percent clip. That season, the Wings scored 102 power-play goals on 461 man-advantage situations.

Before joining the Red Wings, McLellan spent four seasons as head coach of the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros. He led the Aeros to the 2003 Calder Cup championship, defeating the Red Wings' affiliate Grand Rapids in the conference finals, and coached two AHL All-Star Games in four seasons behind the bench.

Under McLellan’s stewardship, the Aeros had a 154-111-37-18 record (.567 winning percentage). Following the 2002-03 season, McLellan was named Minor Pro Coach of the Year by the Hockey News.

Prior to Houston, McLellan spent one season in Cleveland, where the Lumberjacks went 43-32-7 in the International Hockey League.

In seven professional seasons, including six seasons in the WHL at Swift Current, McLellan never missed the playoffs. He was named the WHL Coach of the Year in 2000. As coach and general manager at Swift Current in his final four seasons there, he was awarded the WHL Executive of the Year award in 1997.

The Melville, Saskatchewan native played junior hockey with Saskatoon (WHL), and was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1986. He spent two seasons in the AHL with Springfield, and played five games for the Islanders in 1987-88, recording one goal and one assist.